Split-lock catcher



^ Junel?, 1930. J. suNNEN 1,764,185

sPL'IT LMQGKl CATCHER Filed July 8, 1929 Z NVNTG,

dany/Z .ju/zwem HTTORNE )f5 Patented `lune 17, 1930 JOSEPH SUNNEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI SPLIT-LOCK CATGHER Application ined July s, 1929. serial No. 376,572.

This invention relates generallyto tools for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to catchers for catching split locks of the valve assembly.

As is well known in the art, the lower end of each valve spring is Vseated on a retaining washer which is held on the valve stem by means of a suitable lock. Generally this lock consists of a member split longitudinally in two halves and having its outer face tapering upwardly to lit into a similarly shaped recess formed in the underside of said retaining washer. The valve stem is provided with a peripheral groove in which said lock is seated and forms a support for the washer. The two halves of the lock are held together by the recessed portion of said washer and the valve spring, the lower end of which presses against said washer and holds it against said lock.

i i Now it is frequently necessaryto dismantle thervalve assembly, as, for instance, in grinding valves or in making repairs. During this operation the valve spring has to be g5 compressed against the upper stationary end (preferably by a suitable valve lifter) in order to release said lock, whereupon the valve can be removed from the block. The valve spring can then be also removed.

en compressing the spring, assoon as the washer is moved away from the lock members, the latter have a tendency to become disengaged from the valve stem and drop into the crank case- This also happens when releasing the spring in position. As the space in which the parts are located is very limited and is usually so located as to be almost inaccessible, considerable time is lost in dismantling and replacing the valve assembly. This is particularly true of certain makes of automobile engines which are some of the hardest jobs to work out. When the lock members which are of comparatively small size drop into the crank case, they are hard to find and to retrieve so that considerable time is lost on account of the dropping of the lock members.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a suitable split lock catcher which can be readily placed in position in the engine block surrounding the Avalve stem so as to catch said split locks as soon as they are released Without in any way interfering with the removal and replacement of the valve spring or the operation of the valve lifter when used for this purpose.

2 Other objects of the invention are to provide a split lock catcher which will fit in position in various makes of engines and which is eicient in performing its intended funcl tion and can be economically manufactured.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullyA described and claimed, 6 and illustrated in the accompanying drawo ings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a portion of the cylinder block showing the catcher in position therein. l

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the spring and washer shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the catcher. y Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section through the same- The invention consists of a cup-shaped member 10 open on one side as indicated at 11. This cup-shaped member has a vertically disposed side wall 12 and a bottom 14. The side wall 12 includes a semi-circular portion 15 and straight parallel portions 16 which extend forwardly from said circular portion 15 and form the opening 11. The r arcuate portion 15 is formed with a horizontally disposed slot 17 4arranged subs-tantially intermediate the top and bottom of said side wall, there being a lower slot 18 arranged adjacent to `the bottom 14 and somewhat shorter than the upper slot 17. That portion of the wall 15 arranged above slot 17 iS out into two halves 19 and 20 by a vertical slot which terminates in slot 17. Thus, there is left only a comparatively narrow band 21 95 uniting the two opposite halves of the side wall 12v which provides sullicient resiliency to enable the catcher to slip in position on the tappet. Y y

The bottom 14 is formed by a pair of ex- 100 tensions 22, each of which is formed integral with the corresponding half of wall 12 and is bent inwardly and horizontally. The edges of these extensions are formed with cooperating substantially semi-circular notches 24 which are of sullicient size to receive therebetween the tappet A of the valve assembly. The forward: ends`- ofthe edges of these extensions are formed so as to provide an outwardly flared mouth 25 which facilitates' the positioning of the catcher 'oncsaid tappet. Extensions 22 are provided with rearward projections 26, portions of which arebentlat right angles so as to provide` a suitable handy hold 27.

In using the device, the .catcher isv inserted into the valve assembly pocket-formed-in the cylinder` block .with the open end of the catcher presented inwardly so -as to allow' the split lbottom 14 to engage the tappet A. Vhen the catcher-is in position, itis given a half turn so as to present the open end there-4 of outwardly and;permit-access to the valve assembly. lVith the catcher thus positioned, a valve lifter may now be usedtoengagethe retaining washer C and move it land the lower end of the spring upwardly, therebyexposing split lock members D. When these lock members drop from the valve stem, they are retained by the catcher' from which. theycan be easily removed.

The catcher is so constructedthat it surroundsthe lower end of the`valve sprinfriand the valve stem lwit'houtrhowever inter ering with the assembly and disassembly thereof. The bottomlt of the catcher is formed-so as to enclose completely the tappet and prevent the split lock froindropping into the crank case. The slots or cuts formed in the arcuate portion of the wall of the catcher increase the flexibility thereofso itmay be' easily placed in position and at the same time provide enough resiliency to enable the forward end of the catcher to close against ythe tappet and hold. the catcher position therein.

i The sides 19 and 20 are provided each with an aperture 28, through-which may be'fpassed a looped string or wireusedfor suspending the tool when motn-use.'

The replacer is of simple construction, is compact in size so that it willl fit in` restricted spaces, and can v be manufactured `economically. Vhile I- have shown and described herein thepreferred embodiment of my invention, itis to be understood that various changes can be made in the construction-and:shape of my replacer, ywithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

1I claim: t

1. A split lock catcher comprising a cupshapedmember having; one side open and provide/d with a split bottom having a split opening for'receiving a valvetappet.

2. A split lockk catcher comprising` a cupside wall open on one side, said bottom wall -being.provided with `an opening presented toward said open side and adapted to receive a 'valve tappet.

4. A split lock catcher comprising a memberha'ving a split`bottom and a peripheral side-wall open at one side, sai'dvbottomwall being provided with an opening presented toward said open side and adapted to receive a valve tappet, and outward extensions on said member disposed opposite to said open side for enabling manipulation olf-'said member. y

5. As a new article of manufacture, a catcher for valve stem split locks comprising a single piece member having a sidewall open on one side, and a bottoml wall provided with acentral aperture extending toward the open edge of said bottom, said side wall being provided with a series of cuts arranged opposite to said open side forfincreasing the flexibility of said member.

6. As a new article A of manufacture, --a catcher for valve stem split locks comprising a single piece member having a side wall open on one side, a bottom wall providediwith a central aperture extending toward the open edge of said bottom, said sidewall being provided with a series of cuts arranged'opposite to-said open side for increasing the flexibility of said member, and projections formed i'ntegral with` the bottom of said member `andextio tendingrearwardly therefrom to provide a suitable hand-hold for said member.

7. A device of the class described. comprising a container having a vportionof its peripheral wall cut. away and having a bottom wall split at right angles to said openportion, said bottom wall beingk provided inits opposededges with cooperating recesses vopening toward the open edge of said bottomand adapted to receive the upper endoff'atappet for supporting saidcontainer in posit-ion.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a lock catcher for valve :assemblies of internalcombustion engines, comprising a kcup-shaped member having a portion ofthe peripheral wall removed and provided :in its bottom with a central aperture opening outwardly through the open edge of said-bottom.

9. As anew article of manufacture, ,1a catcher comprising a cup-shaped :member having one side open to enable the container to `bevplaced laterally in position to surround partiallythe lower part of the valve vassembly and to t provide access thereto through said open side, the bottom of said containerbeing provided with a central aperture opening outwardly through the open edge of said bottom, to permit positioning of said container on the upper end of the tappet of said valve assembly.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a catcher comprising a cupshaped member having one side open to enable the container to be placed laterally in position to surround partially the lower part of the valve assembly and to provide access thereto throughsaid open side, the bottom of said container being provided with a central aperture opening outwardly through the open edge of said bottom to permit positioning of said container on the upper end of the tappet of said valve assembly, and an outward extension on said container for enabling manipulation thereof.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a cup-shaped member having one side cut away to provide access thereto and having the bottom wall cut substantially at right angles to said cut-away portion.

12. As a new article of manufacture,a cup? shaped member having one side cut away to provide access thereto and having the bottom wall providedrwith a central aperture to enable said member to be positioned on the upper end of a tappet rod, said bottom Wall being cut radially from said aperture to allow the withdrawal of said member in a lateral direct-ion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiIiX signature this 29 day of June, 1929.

JOSEPH SUNNEN. 

